Lexipol
Lexipol provides fully developed, state-specific law enforcement policies researched and written by subject matter experts and vetted by attorneys. Our policies are based on nationwide standards and best practices while also incorporating state and federal laws and regulations where appropriate. Best of all, we keep your policies updated for you, saving you time and money.
With Lexipol, you will enhance personnel accountability, reduce liability, save time and money on policy management AND rest easy knowing your department is protected.
AI tools like ChatGPT are reshaping law enforcement, but without clear policies, departments risk ethical, legal and operational missteps
Here are five actionable strategies to use data for officer development, risk reduction and enhanced transparency in your law enforcement agency
The 8th Circuit affirms qualified immunity for officer in shooting of off-duty cop during a chaotic pursuit in St. Louis
The court noted probable cause “is not a high bar: It requires only the kind of fair probability on which reasonable and prudent people, not legal technicians, act.”
If you’ve never written an affidavit for a search warrant, now is the time to learn
Use your discretion and consider the situation from the driver’s perspective when you can and when appropriate
The appellate court held that the suspect, while not free to leave, was not in custody when an officer first questioned him in the park
Supervisors need to continually remind their officers about operational security, so all information stays in the hands of investigators
The defense attorney isn’t always interested in WHAT you say. Rather they’re more interested in HOW you say it!
Split-second decisions are inevitable in the law enforcement profession but reacting in a way that deprives people of their constitutionally approved rights is not
Whether using social media as an individual or as an agency, it’s important to consider the impact your words can have on you and the organization
Departments must be creative, and leaders must be innovative
An action that may be perceived as “mean,” yet doesn’t violate a clearly established constitutional right, will not lead to liability for an officer
“We can make a huge change on scene if we just spend 120 seconds with a community member.”
More than the use of a spotlight, what the officer didn’t do weighed against creating a detention
The best practice: Avoid a custodial arrest for misdemeanors not committed in the officer’s presence
A citizen questions whether an officer who publicly criticizes the sheriff and his deputies could work effectively alongside them
What’s the long-term impact of Armstrong v. Pinehurst? A study indicates some agencies reacted by altering policy in such a way that may have led to increased officer-involved shootings
You don’t know me, but I was once you. Whoever you are, I know what you’re worried about.
We live in a society that is more mobile and diverse than ever. Officers should learn what language resources are available before the need arises
Fifty years ago I was taught that the right-side approach on a traffic stop is the safest – and that message is just as relevant for recruits today
Personnel feel unrecognized, many do not trust agency leaders and few are willing to recommend their career to others. How can we fix this?
In this case, the suspect argued that, “The stop of the vehicle was improper because the officer made a mistake of law that the vehicle was stolen.”
If you’re in a first responder role and find yourself needing help, you likely have multiple avenues for support
Raising a Monell claim is one way plaintiffs try to get at the purse of the government agency in the role as the officer’s employer, supervisor and policy-maker
A recent case highlights the importance of “clearly established” law at the time of law enforcement-civilian interactions
The sad reality is that many public safety families struggle to enforce the law on the street only to lose control of the battle at home
A suspect challenged the validity of the underlying arrest warrants, but the court held the officers had a good faith basis to rely on the information about the warrants
“We think that the use of force remains reasonable after a suspect employs a weapon, has not surrendered, and thus remains dangerous.”
This month’s selection focuses on the “why” behind tragedies and the lessons public safety can take from other professions
Do those in public safety do a good job of taking advantage of what’s available to help them in their times of need?
The appellate court held the law was sufficiently clear and that the officer “should have known he could not use deadly force on an unarmed man in a parked car.”
As much as you would like it, you can’t expect to be everyone’s hero. The trauma a victim is experiencing is theirs to handle, not your burden to assume
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